FedEx Freight rates are less-than-truckload (LTL) prices set by FedEx Freight, which has been an independent company since June 1, 2026. Each rate is built from the shipment’s freight class, weight, origin and destination, service level (FedEx Freight Priority or Economy), a fuel surcharge and any accessorial services, minus the discount on your account. FedEx Freight doesn’t publish one rate card, so the only exact number is a quote for your shipment.
That means the way to control FedEx Freight rates is to control the inputs. This guide explains what changed with the spin-off, how each piece of an LTL rate works, how freight class is set under the 2025 density rules, and where shippers can save. Our guide to FedEx Freight Priority vs Economy LTL services covers the service options in more depth.
What Changed for FedEx Freight Rates After the 2026 Spin-Off?
FedEx Freight became an independent company on June 1, 2026, and LTL shipments now run on a dedicated LTL pricing system. FedEx says service options are unchanged, but how accounts and discounts work did change:
- Separate agreements. Parcel and LTL pricing agreements were split in early spring 2026, or at renewal if that came first. FedEx and FedEx Freight built comparable discounts for each new agreement from historical shipping data.
- Separate earned discounts. Earned discounts now accrue separately for LTL, so parcel volume no longer counts toward your freight tier.
- A different website. LTL orders go through fedexfreight.com. FedEx Ship Manager on fedex.com hasn’t supported LTL since May 2, 2025.
- Same account number. Your FedEx Freight-enabled account number stays the same, and existing customers sign in at fedexfreight.com with the email tied to their FedEx account.
- No more Rewards points. FedEx Freight shipments stopped earning FedEx Rewards points after April 30, 2026.
FedEx itself still sells air freight for shipments over 150 lbs., including First Overnight Freight, 1Day Freight, 2Day Freight and 3Day Freight. Those are priced in FedEx’s rate and transit tool, not by FedEx Freight.
How Are FedEx Freight Rates Calculated?
LTL carriers, including FedEx Freight, price from a base rate for the shipment’s lane, class and weight bracket, then apply your discount and add fuel and accessorials. Each layer has a different lever:
| Rate layer | What sets it | What you control |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | Origin and destination ZIP codes, freight class and weight bracket | Accurate class and weight; tighter packing |
| Service level | FedEx Freight Priority (faster) or FedEx Freight Economy (lower cost) | Choosing Economy when the delivery date allows it |
| Account discount | Your FedEx Freight pricing agreement | Volume, consistency and comparing carriers |
| Fuel surcharge | A variable percentage that moves with fuel prices | Little, so compare quotes with fuel included |
| Accessorials | Extra services at pickup or delivery, such as a liftgate or residential delivery | Ordering only what you need and declaring it up front |
Weight works in brackets, so a heavier shipment often pays a lower rate per hundred pounds. The lane matters too: long hauls and remote service areas cost more than short runs between major terminals.
How Does Freight Class Affect FedEx Freight Rates?
Freight class is the biggest single input you can influence. The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, sorts commodities into 18 classes from 50 to 500, and lower classes carry lower base rates. Classes reflect density, handling, stowability and liability.
NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, moved many commodities to density-based classification and added classes 50 and 55 for very dense freight. The general density scale now reads:
| Density (pounds per cubic foot) | Freight class |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 | 400 |
| 1 but less than 2 | 300 |
| 2 but less than 4 | 250 |
| 4 but less than 6 | 175 |
| 6 but less than 8 | 125 |
| 8 but less than 10 | 100 |
| 10 but less than 12 | 92.5 |
| 12 but less than 15 | 85 |
| 15 but less than 22.5 | 70 |
| 22.5 but less than 30 | 65 |
| 30 but less than 35 | 60 |
| 35 but less than 50 | 55 |
| 50 or greater | 50 |
To find density, multiply the loaded pallet’s length, width and height in inches, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet, then divide the weight by that number. A 48 x 40 x 48 inch pallet weighing 600 lbs. is about 53.3 cubic feet, or 11.25 pounds per cubic foot, which is class 92.5. Some NMFC items keep their own class or scale, so check the commodity’s NMFC item before you book.
What Is the Difference Between FedEx Freight Priority and Economy?
FedEx Freight offers several service lines, and the one you pick changes the rate:
| Service | What it’s for | Rate impact |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx Freight Priority | Faster domestic LTL delivery | Higher than Economy on the same lane |
| FedEx Freight Economy | Lower-cost domestic LTL delivery when time is flexible | The lower-cost option |
| FedEx Freight International | Freight across the U.S., Canada and Mexico | Priced by cross-border lane |
| FedEx Freight Direct | Dock-to-doorstep delivery of heavy items, with several service tiers | Priced by delivery tier |
| FedEx Custom Critical | High-value or hazardous freight in dedicated vehicles | Priced per move |
FedEx Freight describes its network as handling about 86,000 shipments a day through 365 service centers. Once a shipment is booked, our guide to FedEx LTL freight tracking explains how to follow it by PRO number.
Which Accessorial Charges Add to FedEx Freight Rates?
Accessorials are charges for anything beyond a dock-to-dock move. Common ones on LTL shipments include liftgate service, residential pickup or delivery, inside delivery, limited-access locations such as schools and construction sites, delivery appointments and hazardous materials. Each is a separate line on the invoice.
The costly surprise is the one you didn’t declare. If the carrier arrives and needs a liftgate you didn’t order, or reweighs and reclassifies the shipment at the terminal, the charge is added after the fact. Measuring every pallet and listing every accessorial on the bill of lading keeps the invoice close to the quote. Our LTL logistics and freight guide explains how each accessorial works.
How Do You Get a FedEx Freight Quote?
Since the spin-off, LTL quotes come from FedEx Freight: through fedexfreight.com once you sign in, your FedEx Freight sales representative, or customer service at 1-866-393-4585 (1-866-FXF-4LTL). Have these details ready:
- Origin and destination ZIP codes, and whether either end is a residence or limited-access site
- Pickup date and the service level you want
- Number and type of handling units, such as pallets or crates
- Dimensions and weight of each handling unit, including the pallet
- Commodity description, NMFC item and freight class
- Accessorials needed and any hazardous materials
Get at least one competing quote with the same details. Our guide to getting a freight shipping quote explains how to compare them line by line, and the PalletPath LTL freight quote tool gives you a second quote for the same shipment.
How Can You Lower Your FedEx Freight Rates?
- Increase density. Stack tighter, use pallets sized to the load and cut empty space, since higher density can mean a lower class.
- Classify correctly. Use the right NMFC item and measure after packing, so a reclass doesn’t add charges later.
- Choose Economy when you can. Save Priority for shipments with a firm deadline.
- Consolidate. One heavier shipment usually costs less per pound than several small ones on the same lane.
- Use docks. Ship from and deliver to loading docks where possible to avoid liftgate and residential charges.
- Review your agreement. With LTL discounts now earned separately from parcel, check that your freight tier reflects your actual LTL volume.
For freight, ParcelPath offers PalletPath, its LTL freight service, alongside free parcel shipping with no subscription or per-label fee.
When Is Parcel Shipping Cheaper Than FedEx Freight?
Freight starts to make sense above 150 lbs. per package, the limit for FedEx parcel services. Below that, splitting a shipment into parcels is often cheaper, especially for a few boxes going to a residence. Our comparison of FedEx Ground vs Express explains the parcel options, and our guide to FedEx shipping fees and surcharges covers what adds to a parcel bill. For urgent parcels, see our FedEx overnight shipping cost guide.
If you’re open to UPS or USPS for the parcel side, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, and you can compare both in the ParcelPath rate calculator. Our FedEx shipping calculator guide explains which inputs change a FedEx parcel quote. International shippers should also settle who pays import charges: our guide to Delivered Duty Paid with FedEx explains the terms, and our breakdown of FedEx charges from the USA to India shows how they apply on one lane.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are FedEx Freight rates calculated?
FedEx Freight rates start from a base rate for the shipment’s origin and destination, freight class and weight bracket. Your account discount is applied, then a fuel surcharge and any accessorials, such as liftgate or residential delivery, are added. The service level matters too: FedEx Freight Priority is faster, and FedEx Freight Economy costs less on the same lane.
Is FedEx Freight still part of FedEx?
No. FedEx Freight became an independent company on June 1, 2026. LTL shipments now use a dedicated LTL pricing system and are booked through fedexfreight.com, while your FedEx Freight-enabled account number stays the same. FedEx still sells its own air freight services, such as 1Day, 2Day and 3Day Freight, for shipments over 150 lbs.
How do I find the freight class for a FedEx Freight shipment?
Look up the commodity’s NMFC item, then check whether it uses the density scale. For density-based items, divide the shipment’s weight by its volume in cubic feet. Since NMFTA’s July 19, 2025 changes, freight of 50 pounds per cubic foot or more is class 50, and freight under 1 pound per cubic foot is class 400.
What is the minimum weight for FedEx Freight?
FedEx Freight is built for shipments too heavy or bulky for parcel service, and FedEx parcel services top out at 150 lbs. per package. Shipments under that limit can usually go as parcels, which is often cheaper for a few boxes. For palletized freight, get an LTL quote and compare it with the parcel cost of splitting the load.
Sources
- FedEx Freight: Freight separation details and FAQ (fedexfreight.com/en-us/freight-separation)
- FedEx Freight: Services and network overview (fedexfreight.com)
- FedEx: Freight shipping and the FedEx Freight separation notice
- FedEx: Rate and transit tool
- NMFTA: NMFTA implements historic NMFC changes
- NMFTA: Docket 2025-1 notice of disposition (effective July 19, 2025)
Part of our FedEx Shipping Fees guide. Related: FedEx Shipping hub, FedEx Charges From USA to India.
